Gasholder



Aug. 13, 1940.

P. C. RODGERS GASHOLDER Filed Aug. 17, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l AY I'ORNEYS.

Aug. 13,v 1940. P, c. RODGERS GASHOLDER Filed Aug. 17, 1958 4 Sheets-Shee 2 v\ T TORNEUS.

Aug. 13, 1940. P. c. RoDGERs GASHOLDER Filed Aug. 17. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN ENTOR laaa'fs.

A TTORNEYS .Eql/L a Aug. 13, 1940. P. c. RoDGERs GASHOLDER Filed Aug. 17, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EMAIL INVENTOR. C. faaaE/fs.

Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES f PATENT OFFICE Application August 17,

9 Claims.

My invention relates to gasholders of what are known as the waterless type, although they partake of the advantages of the telescopic gasholder.

The waterless type holder in the past has been constructed with an o-utside cylinder which is protected by a roof, and within which a piston slides upwardly upon injection of gas below it. Such a device requires an expansible seal on the piston, and such seals, while effective in a general way, are subject to a very important duty which prohibits failure at the expense of safety. This is because a leak past the piston will result in gas nding its way into the cylinder between the piston and the roof, mixing with the air that is there and forming an explosive mixture. Furthermore, such devices are large in size and expensive elevators both outside and inside of the devices are generally required. In one style of such holder the devices require a frequent pumping of sealing liquid into a chamber above the piston from which it flows down around the piston forming a liquid seal which is kept replenished at all times. This is an expensive operation requiring complicated equipment.

The telescopic gasholder is safe from explosion diiculties, but requires a large tank for water in which the telescopic sections are mounted and from which they emerge seriatim as gas is in- Jected into the central top closed section. Such tanks with their water content are heavy and present foundation difficulties. Also the protection against leakage between sections consists of a water seal, picked up in a channel about the base of each section called a cup, which channel engages a depending anged projection on the inside of the top of each outer section called a grip, thus forming a water seal. This seal freezes in cold weather and must ber kept heated which is a trouble and an expense. However, leakage of gas from such water seals does not result in danger of explosion.

It is the object of my invention to provide for the advantages of the waterless holder and the advantages of the telescopic holder, without the disadvantages of either.

To this end I provide for a cup and grip arrangement and telescopic cylinders, but use an outer shell or tank which is not required to be completely iilled with liquid so as to act as a sealing device. Instead I provide contractable seals on the grip sections of each outer telescopic section which engage the outer walls of the next inner section. The tank can contain enough oil or other non-freezing liquid to ll the cups,

1938, Serial N0. 225,385

(Cl. l18--1'74) Each seal on its grip section becomes essentially non-operative as soon as it is elevated above its lowest position, and thus all seals on the grips while performing their sealing function, are well within a position where they can be observed and kept in condition at a low level; i. e., the level of the top of the outermost shell or tank.

Other incidental objects of my invention are the provision of an effective contractable seal to employ upon the grip sections in which I have combined Athe advantages of the so-called dry seal used in som-e waterless gasholders, and the so-called oil or tar seal maintained by a flow of a suitable oil or tar in other waterless gasholders.

I have, in( 'the drawings and speciiication, shown and described a single embodiment of my invention, and hereby refer tothe claims appended to this specification for expression of the novelty over the art, which is incident to the said embodiment and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a gasholder built according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail section on a larger scale of the sealing structures illustrating my invention therein.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective of one of the seal operation elements.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a segment of the seal which is employed on each grip member.

Figure 8 is a perspective showing the cellulose sponge-like material used in one form of my seal.

Figure 9 is another shape of sponge used by Figure 10 is a cross section of a modiiied form of seal as used on the grip members.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing a modication of my invention.

Figure 12 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing a modification of my invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, I have indicated a frame work at I for guiding the movement of the several sections of the gasholder. Three telescopic sections are illustrated, the inner section 2 which is covered at thetop, the intermediate section `3, and the outer section 4. A tank 5 Serves as the fourth section of the gasholder,

but it is not movable. Each of the movable sections is equipped with suitable arms G which carry rollers or the like as at 'I to engage the frame. Such an arrangement as shown in the frame and means for guiding the telescopic sections, can be of standard form as used in telescopic ga..- holders of the water seal type.

The section 2 has a cup 3 in the form of an annular channel about its lower end, upon the base of which channel there may be provided rollers 8a for guiding the section 2 on the next outer section. In like manner the section 3 is equipped with a cup 8 and guide rollers, the outer section Il preferably having an angle 8b at its base which carries rollers 8a bearing on the outer tank, which it will be noted is no higher than would be required of a fourth telescopic section. There could be any number of sections as desired, and they could be of dimensions desired.

A bath of oil in the lower portion of the tank 5 sufficient to fill the cup members on each section of the holder when in their lower position, is indicated at Q. This, together with enough oil to ll the grip containers I2, if used, is all of the oil that is required. The oil in the cup members is indicated at Il). Any oil which is liberated along the sides of any section falls back into the tank 5.,

It will be noted that each section but the inner section is formed with a grip member consisting essentially of a depending skirt or ange il, spaced away from the top of each section. The frame work which supports the grip portion II may be built as an annular box or container i2 which can be supplied with oil to assist the seal which is mounted on the grip member I I. The word grip is a word in the art used to refer to the depending annular element on a gasholder section which dips into the cup (an annular channel) on an adjacent section thus effecting a seal with the liquid held in the cup, and which grip in connection with its mounting also serves as the member which is engaged by the cup of the adjacent section so as to permit the section with the grip upon it to be elevated.

Neglecting for a moment the seals on the grip members, it will be evident that as gas is introduced into the apparatus as so far described, the central section will rise first, will pick up oil in its cup which will engage under the grip on the next section and elevate it, and so on, the reverse situation taking place as gas is withdrawn from the holder. The outer section which serves as a tank engages and holds the movable section by means of its grip member.

It is apparent that in such an arrangement there is no seal whereby gas could not escape around the bottom of any movable section during the time that it rises from the oil bath at the base of the tank, and until its cup receives the grip of the next outer section. In order to provide for sealing each section during this interval, I provide as above noted for contracting seals mounted on the several grip sections.

Figures 2 to 9 illustrate the preferred form of seal. In Figure 2 the cup of the inner section is in engagement with the grip member II of the next outer section, and the oil as indicated at I0 acts as a seal. The seals on the outside of the grip which engage the outer wall of the next inner section are preferably constructed as will now be described, it being understood that in its broader aspects any contractile sealing structure would serve the purpose.

On a series of brackets I3, located around the inner periphery of the plates or grips II, are suspended by means of links I4 a series of plates I5. These plates have flanges I6 which extend rearwardly in order to strengthen them, and being a contractile arrangement the plates arc not connected to each other, nor is any closed annulus formed of these plates since they are independent of each other and separated from each other. Brackets I5a act as abutments to keep the plates from rising in operation.

Mounted on a series of frames Ia located behind each suspended plate are cam members Il, pivotally held on the frames with a band I8 running from one side of the cams around the cam surface and with the other cam surface bearing, as to each device against its plate. Springs I 8a secured to the bands and secured also to the brackets I3 tend to rotate the cams so as to exert inward pressure against the plates.

Mounted on the inner faces of the plates by means of angle irons I9 bolted thereto is a ilexible skirt Ia of suitable material which is formed in a complete annulus and secured tight to the lower edge of the grip section all of the way around it by any suitable clamps. Between the angle irons located on each plate I5 are channel irons 2E, and between the channel irons and the angle irons are mounted strips of packing ZI, annular in shape, the structure being hold together by means of bolts 22. Held in the channel irons are a series of blocks 23 of a soft, absorbent, or spongy material, preferably cellulose sponge, a product formed of cellulose made up like sponge rubber. quality of holding absorbed liquid and presenting a face of the liquid on its surfaces. It is more lasting when filled with oil than sponge rubber would be, and just about as absorbent. In the presence of oil saturating it, this cellulose sponge is quite soft and pliable.

I have already referred to the tanks for oil which I may provide in connection with the grip members. If these tanks are used, I extend a series of pipes 24 to a space behind the cellulose sponge, and I protect this space by means of series of perforated plates 24a which are set at the backs of the sponge pieces and clamped up together with them in setting up the sealing device. Oil thus fed by gravity to the spaces behind the sponge pieces fills them with oil and the outer oiled surface of the sponge pieces wipes against the section wall to be sealed. The packing strips act as sealing members of course, and the oil lm which is set up adds to the effectiveness of this packing. In between the plates 24a I may locate sponge pieces 23a (Figures 6 and 9) which seal oi: any cracks between the Sponges 23.

It will be noted that the structure now described acts as a contractile seal which is held snugly against the outer wall of each telescopic section of the holder. In order to protect the holder against water getting into the seals on the grip sections, I provide a series of plates 25 secured pivotally to ears 26 located along the tops of the tank elements of the section grips. These plates are arranged to overlap each other as shown in Figure 3 and carry curved tongues 27 which wipe the telescopic section walls. The disposition of the plates is at a slant to serve as a rain shed.

I have shown pipes 28, preferably suitable for attachment to a flexible hose 29, which permit of pumping oil to the oil boxes of the section This substance has the grips, and have indicated at P in Figure 1 a pump for accomplishing this, which pump is supplied from the tank section. Replenishing of this oil is done when the sections are down, in the course of the usual inspection, and when they are readily available without any elevator equipment for use by the workman to inspect his work.

As indicating another form of seal, I have shown, as located on the grips H (Figure which are spaced away in any desired way from the sections on which they are mounted, the same series of spaced plates I5. Instead of the rotatable cams I have shown cam arms 40 pivoted to brackets 4I on the grip member located behind each plate, said arms having extensions 42 which are weighted, to result in pushing inwardly on the plates. The angle iron and channel iron pieces are mounted up in the same way, and the skirt I9a is the same. The packing rings are also the same, but the equipment in the channel irons is different. In this case there is provided a continuous annular grease channel 43 between which and the iianges of the channel irons are set a series of blocks 44 which act as brushes. Springs 45 are located behind the blocks to press them inwardly against the adjoining section wall. Pipes 46 extend up through the brackets 41 and are equipped with ttings for application of a grease pump to keep the grease boxes full of grease. In this way the seal is kept lubricated with grease, in the place of oil as used in the other seal, and the oil tanks I2 are eliminated.

In order to. provide for removal of any water which may get past the rain shed 25 into the seal section between the grip plate Il and the skirt lila, I provide a pipe 50, whereby when the holder is being inspected, a suction line may be connected thereto, and the water removed.

My invention is also applicable to gas holders composed of only two sections, one of which constitutes a tank which is stationary and the other is provided with a top and moves or telescopes within the tank. In such a case, I may eliminate the cup andg'rip described above, as shown in Figure 11, and permit the contractile seal to perform the entire sealing function throughout the limit of movement of the inner section. The seal illustrated in Figure 11 is identical with the one shown in Figure 10 and therefore requires no further description. Likewise the other parts of the gas holder have previously been described and will not be described further.

In Figure 12 I have lshown another modification similar to ,Figure 11 but in which a combination seal is used. This seal -is analogous to the one shown in detail in Figure 2, and is provided with an oil reservoir l2a, as described in connection with Figure 2. In this case, however, I provide a body of oil in the bottom of the tank and a pump P for supplying oil to the reservoir I2a. With this modification the oil in the bottom of the tank serves as a seal, as described in connection with Figure 2, so that when the inner section is in its lowermost position the sealing functions of the upper seal are not required, therefore, the upper seal may be repaired or replaced without loss of gas when the holder is in its lower-most position.

Having thus described my invention by a typical embodiment, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a telescoping gasholder, in combination with at least two of the telescoping sections thereof, a cup on the lower outer edge of the inner section of the two a grip on the inner upper edge of the outer section of the two so arranged that the gripl will enter the cup when the inner section is elevated, an outer tank into which the cup dips when its section is in itslower position, said outer tank being adapted to contain a liquid which is picked up by said cup, and a seal located on the `grip of the outer of the two sections to effect a seal against the wall of the inner section, until the said grip engages in the .said cup.

2. In a telescoping gasholder, in combination with at least two of the telescoping 'sections thereof, a cup on the lower outeredge of the inner section of the two, a grip Von the inner upper edge of the outer section of the two so arranged that the grip will enter the cup when the inner section is elevated, an outer tank into which the cup clips when its section is lin its lower position, said outer tank being adapted to contain a liquid which is picked up by said cup, and a seal located on the grip of the outer of the two sections to eiect a seal against the wall of the inner section, until the saidgrip 'engages in the said cup, the circumferential space between the said two sections being closed above the grip by a rain shedding annulus mounted on the outer section.

3. A telescoping gasholder comprising an outer section and an inner section having a top, said inner section having a cup about its outer lower edge, and said outer section having a grip about its inner upper edge, and an annular seal mounted on the inner upper edge of the outer section and arranged for contractile engagement with the inner section.

4. In a gasholder a series of telescoping sections, the inner section having a top, and the outer section having a bottom, and at least one intermediate section, annular seals at the inner upper edge of each section but the inner section, said seals engaging the outer walls of the next adjacent section within them, a cup on the inner section at its outer lower edge, and a grip on the intermediate section on its inner upper edge which enters the cup of the inner section when the same is elevated; thereby providing a seal between the said two sections through the medium of liquid held in the cup.

5. In a gasholder a series of telescoping sections, the inner section having a top, and the outer section having a bottom, and at least one intermediate section, annular seals at the inner upper edge of each section but the inner section, said seals engaging the outer walls of the next adjacent section within them, a cup on the inner section at its outer lower edge, and a grip on the intermediate section on its inner upper edge which enters the cup of the inner section when the same is elevated; thereby providing a seal between the said two sections through the mediurn of liquid held in the cup, the seals first mentioned being mechanically contractile seals.

6. In a gasholder comprising a series of movable sequentially telescoping elements, a sealing arrangement including a seal on the upper inner portion of one telescoping element bearing against the wall of the next inner telescoping element and whereby the seal, while exclusively performing its sealing function, is stationary, and the surface against which it seals moves, an annular flange at the inside top of each outer adjacent section rand a liquid seal as an annular cup at the lower outer portion of the inner ones of said sections which is located to come into operation with said annular flange.

7. In a gasholder comprising a series of sequentially telescoping elements the outer one of which is fixed, a sealing arrangement including a seal on the upper inner portion of each outer element bearing against the Wall of the next inner telescoping element, and means on the inner upper end of each movable telescoping element except the inner one of the series, and on the outer lower end of at least each movable element but the, outer movable element, said means arranged to interengage each other and arranged to form a seal between the sections when elevated above the outer xed section.

8. In a gasholder a series of sections, the outer section being xed and having a bottom and the inner sections comprising at least two sections which telescope as to each other and as to the outer section, the inner one of which has a top, a seal on the inner upper portion of the outer section engaging the outer wall of the adjacent telescoping section, and a sealing arrangement between the telescoping sections comprising grips on the inner upper walls of the outer ones thereof, and cups on the lower outer walls of the inner ones thereof, and seals on the grips engaging the walls of adjacent inner sections.

9. In a gasholder a series of sections, the outer section being iiXed and having a bottom and the inner sections comprising at least two sections which telescope as to each other and as to the outer section, the inner one of which has a top, a seal on the inner upper portion of the outer section engaging the outer wall of the adjacent telescoping section, and a sealing arrangement between the telescoping sections comprising grips on the inner upper Walls of the outer ones thereof, and cups on the lower outer Walls of the inner ones thereof, and seals on the grips engaging the walls of adjacent inner sections, the outer section being adapted to retain oil to fill the said cups, and rain shedding members to cover the space above the seals on said grips, said members wiping the outer surface of the neXt inner telescoping sections.

PAUL C. RODGERS. 

